shahar kedem's stove questions the distance between the urban man and earth's soil

shahar kedem’s ’28 kilos of soil’ project deals with the essence of soil in the materialistic environment of our lives. the soil stove is a domestic heat source presenting a new interaction between man and earth, raw material, ancient technique and innovative technologies.

material research and preliminary products, creating a library of tests, textures, mixtures of pressed soil

israeli based industrial design student shahar kedem has done ’28 kilos of soil’ by compressing basaltic soil collected from various areas in the golan heights. therefore, basalt magnetizes and thus may be heated in an induction environment.

the rujum icon uses the memory of the rujum figure as a guide line for the stove’s structure

it is the product of a study process investigating soil from many points across the country. they can be compressed into shaped molds patterns, copy texture, maintain a constructive structure and integrate with other soils. each piece of soil contributes to the research with its own color, texture, scent and characteristics.

parting line is a performance of an industrial technique motive on an organic material made object

domestication of the soil temporarily stabilizes it but does not neutralize its tendency to crack, disintegrate, smell, absorb and spread. ’28 kilos of soil’ offers a way for us to have organic products back in our material environment. this may not replace nature but rather serve as a reminder of its existence.

studying the spectrum of the abilities for soil to take shape and texture

layered MDF molds are designed for CNC production

18 kg of volcanic soil shaped by press into mold

soil lab has more than 20 different types of soil tests in a variety of shapes, textures and mixtures

end products from the soil lab

over painting. using yellow desert clay on gray volcanic rammed bowls

soil flash waiting to crumble

stove’s top is the highest module used as a niche for the personal heating soil egg

the heating furnace done by shahar kedem is made of soil

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: apostolos costarangos | designboom